Family: Bromeliaceae
Guzmania monostachia is an epiphytic, and sometimes terrestrial bromeliad native to moist and wet forests of Southern Florida, Nicaragua to Peru, and Brazil, Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and Trinidad & Tobago. It is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental, and is now naturalized on the islands of Maui, Oahu, and Hawaii. With an ability to spread both vegetatively and by wind-dispersed seeds, and to densely colonize host trees, this plant has the potential to impact both landscaping as well as native forest communities.
High Risk Traits:
- Broad elevation range in tropical climates
- Native to and able to spread in regions with tropical climates
- Naturalized on Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii
- A potential landscaping and environmental weed.
- Shade tolerant.
- Able to form dense cover on host trees, potentially weighing them down or competing with other epiphytic vegetation.
- Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively.
- Self-fertile
- Dispersed by wind (seeds) and through intentional cultivation.
- Seeds can remain viable for >1 year.
Low Risk Traits:
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Non-toxic
- Reaches maturity in 5-6 years from seed.